Book Description
A number of feasibility measurements were performed to assess the x-ray imaging properties of two capillary optics for digital mammography. Optic 1, used in year one, had input and output diameters of 4.15 mm and 7.5 mm, respectively, . Optic 2, used in year two had input and output diameters of 3.62 mm and 6.83 mm, respectively. A mammographic scanning system was constructed to allow imaging of a larger field for some of the measurements. Optic 1 showed good primary transmission, 46%. Optic 2 had better linearity at mammographic energies. Images of a Lucite contrast detail phantom, using a lead blocker, showed that both optics provide an increase in image contrast with a contrast improvement of approximately 1.7, and a reduction of scatter fraction to 0.02. The limiting resolution for the CR phosphor plate system was increased to about 8.5 1p/mm, with an improvement of the MTF at all spatial frequencies. Clinical training was received by the postdoctoral fellow.